Business Ethics

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Topic: Page:

1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 2

2. INTRODUCTION 3

3. RIMS 4

3.1 EVALUATION OF ALL POINTS OF VIEW 4

3.2 IMPLICATIONS 6

3.3 SOLUTION 6

4. THEORETICAL APPROACHES TO BUSINESS ETHICS 7

4.1 SOCIAL SCIENTIFIC POSITION 7

4.2 MANAGERIAL POSITION 7

4.3 ORGANISATIONAL INTEREST POSITION 8

4.4 ETHICAL GUIDANCE POSITION 9

4.5 ETHICAL CONTROL POSITION 9

4.6 ETHICAL DEVELOPMENT POSITION 10

5. MYTHS 11

5.1 DOG EAT DOG 11

5.2 IT’S NOT SO SERIOUS 11

5.3 IF YOU CAN’T BEAT THEM JOIN THEM 12

5.4 SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST 12

5.5 NICE GUYS COME SECOND 13

5.6 ALL THAT MATTERS IS THE BOTTOM LINE 13

6. ETHICAL DIMENSIONS 14

6.1 MACRO 14

6.2 MESO 15

6.3 MICRO 16

7. DESCRIPTIVE ETHICS 17

7.1 IMMORAL MODE 17

7.2 REACTIVE MODE 18

7.3 COMPLIANCE MODE 18

7.4 INTEGRITY MODE 18

7.5 ACHIEVING THE TOTALLY ALIGNED ORGANISATION (TAO) MODE 19

8. CONCLUSION 20

9. REFERENCES 21

1. Executive Summary

Business ethics is the study of conflict, conflict between economics and values, between competition, commerce, and capitalism and between morality, integrity and responsibility. All of these are being experienced in Zimbabwe today as the country grapples with its tyrannical and dictatorial government.

Ethics relates to the science of morals, or a system of principles and rules of conduct and very broadly the whole field of moral social science, incorporating political social science, law and jurisdiction. Robert Mugabe repeatedly demonstrates that he and his government have no respect for humanity or the principles to make a moral u-turn to salvage the country from the brink of disaster. The international communities silence in actively, on the ground level, intervening to save thousands of people from the inhumane onslaught by Robert Mugabe.

We observe that the situation in Zimbabwe needs to be brought in line with value-driven governance, in sync with the management of ethics, offering a crucial starting point for transforming the ethical orientation of government while enhancing financial performance.

In order to produce sustained ethical behaviour, an ethical way of thinking (ethical government’s culture) and doing (ethical behaviour) needs to be cultivated. The MDC together with the international community can pressurise Mugabe into changing the “Gesammt Kunst” of Zimbabwe.

The MDC/ZANU-PF needs to set specific ethics objectives for Zimbabwe, design and implement a strategy to achieve these objectives, institutionalise ethics, and monitor and report on the ethical performance of all governmental officers.

2. Introduction

According to an article by Rossouw & Van Vuuren on business ethics, they established that ethics is an essential part of business. Unethical behaviour can have devastating consequences for an organisation whereas on the other hand ethical behaviour can give an organisation a competitive edge. An acknowledgement of the importance of business ethics is more than a mere commitment to be ethical, it requires the establishment of a corporate ethical capacity in a concerted and structured way.

For this reason, it is vital that leaders should be competent in managing the ethical dimension of their business. Just like any other area of business skill, such as finance, human resources, or marketing, the ethical arena requires specific knowledge and application. Just as managers can either be competent or incompetent with regard to specific managerial roles, they can be better or worse at managing ethics. (Rossouw, G.J. & van Vuuren, L.J.: 2002).

Delius et al (2000, 113) provides a definition or explanation of ethics derived from the Greek word ethos, meaning custom (character), a moral philosophy. Ethics investigates the precondition and the effects of human actions.

Rossouw (2002: 3) suggests that no popular distinction should be made between “ethics” and “morality” and mentions that ethics concerns itself with what is good or right in human interaction. It involves the consideration of the “good”, the “self” and the “other”.

Ethical behaviour is therefore the product of a complex combination of influences. At the core is the individual decision maker with a unique combination of personality characteristics and values as well as personal experience in being rewarded or reinforced for certain behaviour.

Many organisations recognise that there is a crucial connection between ethics and organisational success. They acknowledge that the passionate preservation of corporate reputation, respect for the preferences of ethically discerning consumers, and the protection of company assets against fraud and corruption result in investor confidence and good business.

3. RIMS

3.1 Evaluation of all points of view

Currently, 1.5 million Zimbabweans are living with AIDS. One in every four sexually active Zimbabweans is estimated to be infected with the virus